Word Origin & History

peg 1440, from M.Du. pegge "peg," a common Low Ger. word of uncertain origin (cf. Low Ger. pigge "peg," M.Du. pegel "little knob used as a mark"). The verb meaning "fasten with or as if on a peg" is first recorded 1598, from the noun. Slang sense of "identify, classify" first recorded 1920. To be a square peg in a round hole "be inappropriate for one's situation" is attested from 1836; to take someone down a peg is from 1589, but the original lit. sense is uncertain (most of the likely candidates are not attested until centuries later).

Example Sentences for pegged

Teachers can continue to use the same handouts, too, which may be pegged to the particular calculator.

Since his work was pegged as off-beat, product design groups did not seek him out to make real prototypes.

Third comes the peso convertible, a piece of scrip with a value pegged to that of the dollar.

Instead of having to take politically risky votes on salary hikes, they pegged their pay to the city's cost of living.

Most economies pegged their exchange rates to gold under the system, which worked fairly well for two decades.

Their logic is that to attract talent into the public service, the pay has to be pegged to that of the private sector.

The economy is seriously overheating, but its currency is pegged to the euro, which means it cannot raise interest rates.

Some have currency boards, or pegged exchange rates.

Inflation expectations aren't pegged hopelessly at or below zero.

But once you are pegged as a comedian, you are going to be used as that.